Kosovo trade war

Trade expert, Ilir Ciko says that Kosovo government should urgently start the negotiations for gaining the membership at the Word Trade Organization, which would bring advantages for this conflict.

“By putting Kosovo in an equal position with Serbia, which is not yet a WTO member, this would force Serbia to learn the proper treatment of trade relations with WTO country members and with other states of the region”, Ciko added.

Another solution would be the orienting of Kosovo’s trade towards Albania, making a good use of the new Durres-Kukes highway. Trade between these two countries increased with 30% in 2010, but it still remains low, and should reach the same levels of Serbia.

“It is still lower than the potentials that were expected, but this is a reality that we must admit, and that it will change gradually, because it is not only infrastructure that helps, but also the development of new trade channels”, Ciko declares.

But while the trade between both countries has just started to grow, the Albanian government is planning to place taxes on vehicles that will pass through the Durres-Kukes road.

“The Albanian government should not see only the direct benefits of its Transportation Ministry, due to our budget problems. They must have a wider vision”, Ciko declared.

It may be a coincidence or not, but the World Bank official that leads the project for establishing pay tolls in the highway that connects Albania with Kosovo, is Serbian. In such conditions it could be a conflict of interest.

“If such advices come from countries that have a direct interest on the matter, from the political point of view, such advices should be ignored”, Ciko added.

Top Channel